There is absolutely only one thing that has gotten us through the past 48 hours.  Faith.  Faith in God, faith in each other, faith in ourselves, faith in the doctors and staff and faith in a positive outcome.  Faith is overcoming all. 

Yesterday, we had some huge changes.  After Kevin was put on the ventilator to help with his breathing, we found out storms were about to hit both Lancaster and Baltimore, and the airlift was cancelled.  After about 3 hours, and after a chest tube was put in, the Lifeline team from Johns Hopkins arrived to bring Kevin to his new “home”.

We are now in the Halsted part of Johns Hopkins in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit).  Kevin is stable after some scary stuff last night.  I got some good cries-frankly, I think we ALL have.  However, kevin was in and out of sedation today and I got to explain to him everything that was going on, tell him all about the outpouring of love support and prayers, let him know to stay positive (and he nodded that he has the faith and is going in fighting!), and most of all..to pray with him.

Tonight, around 8pm ET, Kev will undergo surgery to remove what they believe to be a GIST tumor, and to remove a majority of his esophagus.  The remaining part of the upper esophagus will stay, and will then be attached through the left side of his neck, and what’s left of his stomach will be stapled.  After 2-3 months of allowing all the infection to leave his body, and everything to heal, they hope to re-attache his stomach to the remaining part of his esophagus in reconstruction of his digestive track. It sounds risky and intense, and it is.  It will take around 7 hours from prep to recovery for the surgery. 

We were able to get an emergency medical flight for Kevin’s mom, and she will be with us around 10:30 this evening.  Ken and our good friend Marty are travelling down *hopefully* tomorrow night, and Kristi, who has taken Linda to Minneopolis to get her flight, is driving alone the rest of the way to Pa-please keep ALL of them in your prayers for safe travels.

We have a LONG hard road ahead, but we are strong in the faith of Christ our Lord.  I got to pray with the GI nurse practitioner yesterday, and afterwards she told me what an amazing witness Kevin and I will be to others with our faith and belief that God will give us a miracle.  I have been talking to everyone I can here about the amazing butterfly effect of prayer, about how God is showing us the way.  Yes, times are hard, and yes, I do break down.  But then God gives me a peace of understanding that I cannot describe.

Please begin praying now and through the night.  If you can, pray in shifts with your family throughout the wee hours of the morning.  Pray for guidance for the doctors and staff, pray for Kevin’s strength and that Kevin will fight through this surgery, pray for calm and collectness for all of us waiting…pray for EVERYTHING.  What we lift to the Lord in prayer, only He provides. 

Be faithful, as we are.  Pray, as we are.  Understand, as we are.  But most all..BELIEVE, as we are.  You are all a blessing to us.  Thank you.  Love you.  God bless all of you.